Join SteadyPath →
SteadyPath
Free Guide

How Nigerian VAs
Get Paid in Dollars

Step-by-step setup for all 4 platforms — Grey, Wise, Payoneer, and Flutterwave. From download to first withdrawal.

⚡ Set up Grey first. It is the fastest to activate and most beginner-friendly. Then add the others as your client base grows.
🏦
Grey
Nigerian-founded fintech · Real US bank account details · Instant to 24-hour activation
⚡ Fastest Setup 1–1.5% fee Best for: Direct client payments
What you need before you start
  • Valid Nigerian phone number (linked to your BVN)
  • BVN (Bank Verification Number) — must be active
  • NIN (National Identification Number)
  • Government-issued ID — International Passport, National ID, or Driver's Licence
  • A selfie (live photo taken in the app during verification)
  • A Nigerian bank account in your name (for withdrawals)
Setup Steps — Do This Once, Use Forever
1
Download the Grey app
Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). Search for "Grey Finance". Download and install. You can also sign up at grey.co on your laptop — but the app is faster for verification.
2
Create your account
Open the app. Tap "Sign Up." Enter your email address and create a password. You will receive a 6-digit OTP to your email — enter it to verify. Then enter your full name exactly as it appears on your ID, date of birth, and Nigerian phone number.
Use your real legal name. Any mismatch between your Grey account name and your bank account name will block your withdrawals.
3
Complete identity verification (KYC)
Grey will ask you to verify your identity. Tap "Verify Identity." Enter your BVN when prompted. Then enter your NIN. Grey will then ask you to take a live selfie — look directly at the camera and follow the on-screen prompts. Finally, upload a clear photo of your government ID (front and back if required).
Most verifications are approved instantly or within 24 hours. If yours takes longer, check that your BVN is linked to your current phone number.
Do not use a filtered or edited photo for your selfie. The app uses liveness detection — it must be a real-time face scan.
4
Get your virtual USD account details
Once verified, go to your Grey dashboard. Tap on "USD Account" or "Foreign Accounts." Grey will generate a real US bank account for you — you will see: a Routing Number (9 digits), an Account Number, your full name as the account holder, and the bank name. This is your dollar receiving account. Screenshot it and save it somewhere safe.
Grey also gives you GBP (UK sort code + account number) and EUR (IBAN) account details. Get all three — different clients use different currencies.
5
Share your details with your client
When a client asks how to pay you, send them these details exactly as shown in your Grey account. Tell them to do a domestic bank transfer using your routing number and account number — this is how US clients pay. They do not need to know you are in Nigeria. For UK clients, use your sort code and account number. For European clients, use your IBAN.
Most US bank transfers (ACH) arrive in your Grey account within 1–2 business days. Wire transfers are faster but your client may pay a small fee on their end.
6
Withdraw to your Nigerian bank account
When your money arrives in Grey, you will get a notification. Open the app, go to your USD balance, and tap "Convert & Withdraw" or "Withdraw to Bank." Select your Nigerian bank, enter your account number, confirm the amount, and submit. Grey converts at near-market rates. Funds usually arrive in your Nigerian account same day or within 24 hours.
Quick Withdrawal Checklist
1
Open Grey app → tap USD balance
2
Tap "Withdraw" or "Convert & Withdraw"
3
Select your Nigerian bank from the list
4
Enter your account number and confirm your name
5
Enter the amount (Grey shows you the naira equivalent live)
6
Confirm and submit — funds arrive within 24 hours
🌍
Wise
Best mid-market exchange rates · Strong for UK & European clients · 2–3 day setup
📊 Best Exchange Rate ~0.7–1.2% fee Best for: UK & EU clients
What you need before you start
  • Valid email address
  • Nigerian phone number
  • NIN (National Identification Number) — mandatory
  • Government-issued ID — International Passport preferred
  • Selfie photo for identity verification
  • Small amount to fund your account (required to activate receiving details — approximately $5–$10 equivalent)
Setup Steps
1
Create your Wise account
Go to wise.com and click "Register." Choose Personal account — business accounts are not fully available for Nigerian residents. Enter your email address and create a password. Verify your email via the link Wise sends you. Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, date of birth, and residential address in Nigeria.
Choose "Personal," not "Business." Business Wise accounts are restricted for Nigerian residents as of 2026.
2
Complete identity verification
Log in to your Wise account and look for the "Get verified" or "Verify your identity" prompt. Enter your NIN when asked. Then upload a clear photo of your government-issued ID — International Passport works best. Wise will then ask for a live selfie or photo of you holding your ID. Follow the prompts carefully.
Verification on Wise typically takes 1–3 business days for Nigerian accounts. You will receive an email when it is approved. Do not skip any step or your account will be limited.
3
Add a currency balance and get your account details
Once verified, go to your Wise dashboard and click "Add a currency." Select USD first. Wise will prompt you to add a small amount of money to activate the account details — this is required before Wise shows you your receiving details. Add at least the minimum required — usually the equivalent of $10. You can fund it via debit card or local bank transfer.
After funding, go to your USD balance and click "Get account details." You will receive US routing and account numbers. Repeat this for GBP and EUR if you have UK or European clients.
4
Share your account details with clients
For US clients: Share your Wise USD routing number and account number — they can pay via ACH bank transfer. For UK clients: Share your Wise GBP sort code and account number — they pay like a regular UK bank transfer. For European clients: Share your Wise EUR IBAN. Your clients do not need a Wise account to pay you. They pay from their regular bank.
Some platforms and clients may see a Wise payment as a "digital wallet transfer" and decline it. If this happens, use Grey instead — Grey provides a more traditional bank account structure.
5
Convert and withdraw to Nigeria
When payment arrives in your Wise balance, you will receive an email notification. Log in to Wise, go to your USD balance, and click "Send." Choose "Transfer to bank account." Select Nigeria as the destination country, choose your Nigerian bank, and enter your account number. Wise converts at the mid-market rate with a small transparent fee. Funds usually arrive in Nigeria within 1–2 business days.
Wise's exchange rate is often slightly better than Grey's. If you have the time to compare on the day you are converting, use whichever gives you more naira that day.
Quick Withdrawal Checklist
1
Log in to wise.com → click your USD balance
2
Click "Send" → "Transfer to bank account"
3
Select Nigeria → choose your bank → enter account number
4
Enter amount — Wise shows you the exact naira you will receive
5
Confirm and submit — arrives within 1–2 business days
💳
Payoneer
Most trusted for Upwork & Fiverr · 1–3 day approval · Platform freelancers' go-to
🔗 Best for Upwork/Fiverr 2–3% fee Best for: Platform freelancing
What you need before you start
  • Valid email address
  • Nigerian phone number
  • NIN (National Identification Number) — required for verification
  • Government-issued ID — International Passport, National ID, or Driver's Licence
  • Nigerian bank account in your name (for withdrawals — savings or current, any major bank)
  • Your residential address in Nigeria
Setup Steps
1
Go to Payoneer.com and register
Visit payoneer.com and click the "Sign Up" or "Register" button. On the account type page, select "Individual" (not Company — unless you have a registered business with documentation). On the next screen, you can also choose your purpose — select "Freelancer" if you are doing VA work.
2
Complete the registration form
Fill in your full name exactly as it appears on your ID. Enter your email address, date of birth, residential address in Nigeria, and phone number. Select Nigeria as your country. Create a strong password. On the next screen, enter your NIN when prompted — this is mandatory for Nigerian accounts. Click "Submit."
Double-check your name spelling. Payoneer is strict — your account name must match your bank account name exactly for withdrawals to work.
3
Verify your email and identity
Check your email for a verification link from Payoneer — click it to confirm your email. Then log in to your new Payoneer account. You will be prompted to complete identity verification. Upload a clear photo of your government-issued ID (front and back if it is a National ID or Driver's Licence). For an International Passport, upload the main photo page. Follow any additional selfie prompts if shown.
Payoneer typically approves Nigerian accounts within 1–3 business days. You will receive an email confirmation when your account is active and ready to receive payments.
4
Add your Nigerian bank account for withdrawals
Once approved, log in and go to Settings → Bank Accounts → Add Bank Account. Select Nigeria as your country. Choose your bank from the list (GTBank, Access, Zenith, UBA, First Bank, Kuda, etc.). Enter your account number and account type (savings or current). Payoneer may verify this by making a small test deposit — check your bank within 1–2 days and confirm the amount in your Payoneer dashboard.
You must choose between a Payoneer Mastercard or a Nigerian bank account for withdrawals — not both. For most Nigerian VAs, choosing the bank account option is better because you get naira directly without ATM fees.
5
Get your Global Payment Service (virtual account) details
This is Payoneer's version of a virtual foreign bank account. Log in to your Payoneer dashboard and look for "Receive" → "Global Payment Service." You will see USD account details (routing number + account number), EUR details (IBAN), and GBP details (sort code + account number). These work just like the Grey and Wise virtual accounts — share them with clients to receive payments.
Payoneer's Global Payment Service account details are the same ones you link to Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, and other platforms. Once linked, those platforms pay directly into your Payoneer without any extra steps.
6
Link to Upwork or Fiverr (if using platforms)
On Upwork: Go to Settings → Get Paid → Add Payment Method → select Payoneer → log in to your Payoneer account when prompted → authorise the connection. On Fiverr: Go to Profile → Earnings → Withdrawal Method → select Payoneer → link your account. After linking, all platform earnings automatically route to your Payoneer balance, from where you withdraw to your Nigerian bank.
7
Withdraw to your Nigerian bank
When your Payoneer balance reaches the minimum withdrawal amount (usually $50), go to your dashboard and click "Withdraw" → "To Bank Account." Select your linked Nigerian bank account, enter the amount, confirm the exchange rate and fee, and submit. Funds typically arrive in your Nigerian account within 2–5 business days.
Payoneer's withdrawal fee to a Nigerian bank is around 2%. For better rates, many Nigerian VAs use a peer-to-peer exchange service to convert their Payoneer balance at a better rate before withdrawing. Research current P2P exchange options — verify they are active and reputable before use.
Quick Withdrawal Checklist
1
Log in to payoneer.com → click "Withdraw"
2
Select "To Bank Account" → choose your Nigerian bank
3
Enter the amount — Payoneer shows you the naira equivalent and fee
4
Confirm and submit — 2–5 business days to your bank
5
Optional: Use a P2P exchange service for a better naira rate
🦋
Flutterwave Send
Nigerian-founded · Growing fast for Africa-to-Africa & diaspora payments · Simple setup
🌍 Africa-First 1.4% fee Best for: African & diaspora clients
What you need before you start
  • Valid email address
  • Nigerian phone number (active)
  • BVN (Bank Verification Number)
  • Government-issued ID — National ID, International Passport, or Driver's Licence
  • A Nigerian bank account for receiving and withdrawing funds
Setup Steps
1
Download the Flutterwave Send app
Search for "Flutterwave Send" on the App Store or Google Play. Download and install the app. Note: This is separate from the main Flutterwave business dashboard. The Send app is for personal money transfers and receiving payments — this is what you need as an individual VA.
You can also access this via send.flutterwave.com on your laptop or phone browser.
2
Create your account
Open the app and tap "Sign Up." Enter your email address, full name (as on your ID), phone number, date of birth, and create a password. Verify your email using the OTP sent to your inbox. Then verify your phone number via the SMS code.
3
Complete KYC verification
Flutterwave will ask you to complete identity verification to unlock higher limits. Tap "Verify Identity" or look for the verification prompt on your dashboard. Enter your BVN when asked. Then upload your government-issued ID — a clear photo of the front and back. Take a selfie as prompted. Verification is usually approved within a few hours to 1 business day.
Completing KYC unlocks higher sending and receiving limits. Skip it and you will hit low caps quickly — complete it from day one.
4
Set up your receiving details
Once verified, go to your Flutterwave Send dashboard and look for "Receive Money" or "Get Paid." Flutterwave Send generates a personal payment link that you can share with clients. You can also link your Nigerian bank account directly — when a client sends you money, it routes straight to your bank.
Flutterwave Send works best for clients who are in Africa, the UK, the US, or Canada sending money to a Nigerian recipient. It is particularly useful for Nigerian diaspora clients who want to pay you from abroad.
5
Share your payment link with clients
Copy your personal Flutterwave Send payment link from the app. Share it with your client via WhatsApp, email, or invoice. Your client does not need to have Flutterwave — they can pay with a card or bank transfer from their own country. The money arrives in your Flutterwave account and can be withdrawn to your Nigerian bank immediately.
6
Withdraw to your Nigerian bank
When funds arrive, tap "Withdraw" in the app. Select your linked Nigerian bank account. Enter the amount and confirm. Flutterwave Send withdrawals to Nigerian banks are typically processed immediately or within a few hours — often faster than Grey or Wise for naira withdrawals.
Quick Withdrawal Checklist
1
Open Flutterwave Send app → tap "Withdraw"
2
Select your linked Nigerian bank account
3
Enter amount and confirm the naira value
4
Submit — usually same-day withdrawal to your bank

Your First Invoice — Copy This Template

Use this for direct clients (not Upwork or Fiverr). Replace the [BRACKETED] details with your own information. Send as a PDF or Google Doc.

INVOICE From: [Your Full Name] [Your Email Address] Lagos, Nigeria To: [Client's Full Name or Company Name] [Client's Country] Invoice No: 001 Date: [Today's Date] Due Date: [Date + 5 Business Days] ───────────────────────────────────── SERVICE AMOUNT ───────────────────────────────────── [VA Service Description] $[AMOUNT] USD e.g. Inbox Management — [Month Year] ───────────────────────────────────── TOTAL DUE: $[AMOUNT] USD ───────────────────────────────────── PAYMENT DETAILS (choose one to share): Option A — Grey (US Bank Transfer / ACH): Bank Name: Column Bank / Evolve Bank Account Name: [Your Full Name] Routing Number: [Your Grey Routing Number] Account Number: [Your Grey Account Number] Option B — Wise (Wire Transfer): Account Name: [Your Full Name] Routing Number: [Your Wise Routing Number] Account Number: [Your Wise Account Number] Note to Client: Please use [Your Name + Invoice No] as the payment reference. Confirm payment via email or WhatsApp once sent. Thank you.

Platform Comparison — At a Glance

Feature Grey Wise Payoneer Flutterwave
Setup speed ★ Instant–24hrs 1–3 days 1–3 days Instant–24hrs
Real US bank account ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes Payment link only
UK account details ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes Limited
EUR / IBAN ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✗ No
Works with Upwork/Fiverr Partial Partial ★ Best ✗ No
Approximate conversion fee 1–1.5% 0.7–1.2% 2–3% 1.4%
Withdrawal to Nigerian bank Same day 1–2 days 2–5 days Same day
Best for Direct clients (US) UK & EU clients Upwork, Fiverr African/diaspora clients
Nigerian-founded ✓ Yes ✗ No ✗ No ✓ Yes

Which one should you set up first?

If your client is in the US and paying via bank transfer
→ Use Grey (fastest, simplest)
If your client is in the UK or Europe
→ Use Wise (best rates, trusted globally)
If you are earning through Upwork or Fiverr
→ Use Payoneer (platforms support it natively)
If your client is African or from the Nigerian diaspora
→ Use Flutterwave Send (built for this)
If you are just starting out and want one platform
→ Set up Grey first. Add Payoneer in the same week.

Now your payment system is ready.
Let's get you a client to use it.

SteadyPath trains Nigerian VAs from beginner to client-ready — including how to land international clients, write proposals, and price your services for dollar income.

💬 Chat on WhatsApp See All Programmes →